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Soft Furnishings (beginners)

Pineapple Slices

By Pauline Johnston

Materials

Based on 112cm (44in) fabric

50cm plain white for the background

50cm plain red for the cushion backs

50cm assorted red prints for the blocks, borders and appliqué hearts

30cm assorted navy prints for the blocks

Two 50cm squares of butter muslin for lining the cushion tops

Two 50cm squares of 2oz wadding

Two 38cm (15in) red zip fasteners

Two 40cm (16in) cushion pads

Finished Size

16in square (block 6 1⁄4in square)

Skill Level

Beginner

Although the design for both of
these cushions was inspired by
traditional Pineapple patchwork it
is far easier to piece because just
a slice of the Pineapple design has been
taken and made into a simple block. Each
cushion is made from four blocks with
borders added. The blocks are foundation
pieced on paper. The same heart motif has
been used for both the comer appliqué
pattern and the quilting.

Two half square triangles cut from a 4 1⁄2in square in assorted red prints for
the centre blocks (pieces 11)

Two half square triangles cut from a 4 1⁄2in square in white for the centre
blocks (pieces 12)

Cutting Triangles

To cut two half square triangles, cut a square
in half diagonally. Half square triangles have the grain of the fabric along the two
short sides of the triangle

Making the Blocks

Make four blocks for each cushion. Draw the block design onto foundation paper,
transferring all seam lines and numbers. The block measures
6 1/4in as drawn and 6 3/4in including seam allowances

Cut out the strips and triangles as listed above. Place the fabric strip for piece
1 RS up on the unmarked side of the paper. Hold it up to the light to make sure
the piece covers the whole area marked 1 and extends beyond the drawn lines on all
sides. Secure with two pins.

Place the first piece 2 triangle on top of piece 1 with RS together; pin in place.
With the marked side of the paper uppermost sew exactly on the seam line between
pieces 1 and 2. Begin by sewing two or three stitches before the line begins and
extend a few stitches at the end of the line.

Trim the seam allowance to 1⁄4in. Fold open the piece and press. Sew the second
piece 2 triangle to the other side of the strip in the same way. Trim and press as before.

With RS together lay piece 3 on top of pieces already in place, pin in place then
sew on the seam line between the pieces. Trim the seam allowance, open up and press.

Continue to add strips and triangles as shown on the pattern until the block is
complete. A 1⁄4in seam allowance is allowed on the pattern, so trim excess fabric
to the outside lines. Note the pattern for all blocks is the same but try to vary
the fabrics as much as possible, especially the corner print pieces 11 as these
may meet when the blocks are joined together.

Refer to the layout diagram in Figure 1 and arrange the blocks in two rows of two
for each cushion. Take special care to place each block in the right direction.

Stitch the blocks into rows and then sew the rows together. Before pressing, remove
the paper from the seam allowances, but leave the rest of the paper intact until
the cushion fronts are complete.

Figure 1: Layout diagram

The Border

Sew a red border strip to both sides of
the cushions. Press the seams towards
the borders. Sew a white corner square to
each end of the four remaining red border
strips and then sew the borders to the top
and bottom of each cushion. Press the
seams towards the borders.

Make a card template from the heart
motif. Place the template on the WS of
a scrap of red print and mark around the
template. Cut out the heart adding a 1⁄4in
seam allowance. Machine a scant 1⁄8in from
the marked line within the seam allowance
all the way round the heart. Clip the seam
allowance, taking care not to clip through
the stitches.

Slightly gather the heart by pulling up the
bottom (bobbin) thread. Insert the template
on the WS and tighten the gathers around
it. Press the seam allowance over the card.
Remove the card. Make a further seven
hearts in an assortment of red prints.

With the RS up, appliqué a heart in
each of the white corner squares.
Press from the WS.

Quilting and Finishing

Layer and tack each cushion top with
the wadding and butter muslin. Quilt
the heart motif in the centre of all large red
print and plain white triangles. Quilt in the
ditch around the Pineapple shape and
shadow quilt around each appliqué heart.

Place the zip, RS down and 1⁄4in from the
raw edge, on one of the pieces of plain
red fabric for the cushion back. Using a zipper
foot on the sewing machine sew down the
length of the tape close to the teeth of the zip.
Neaten the raw edge of the fabric by turning
the 1⁄4in seam allowance underneath the zipper
tape (to the WS) and zigzagging it to thetape. Sew the opposite side of the zip to
the other piece of fabric in the same way.

Fold one piece of fabric underneath the
other so that the RS are together; this
means opening the seam on one side of the
zip, the two pieces of fabric should lie flat
on top of one another with the zip to one
side. Sew through both layers at each end,
from the edges of the fabric to where the
metal part of the zip begins. Reverse sew
for a few stitches at the metal end.

Open out the piece, RS uppermost, and
press the fold gently over the zip. Pin
or tack the fold in place over the zip. Stitch
through the zip tape from the WS, right
across the cushion back from edge to edge.
Remove any tacking.

Open the zip a little. Place the quilted
front on top of the cushion back, RS
together. Pin then tack the back and front
together. With the cushion front uppermost
sew a 1⁄4in seam around the cushion using
the outer edge of the cushion top as a guide.

Zigzag to neaten the edges then open
the zip completely to turn the cushion
through to the RS. Remove any obvious
tacking and press lightly. Complete the
second cushion in the same manner.

First published in Popular Patchwork Volume 12 Number 11 - October 2004